The foundation announced in a news release Wednesday that it will grant four Missouri food banks a total of $200,000. The grant comes from an emergency fund that is used when there is severe food shortage in the area.

“It was a gift from God,” said food bank director Peggy Kirkpatrick. “A blessing and answer to prayer. ... We were not expecting this.”

Kirkpatrick said she was told by the Missouri Foundation for Health that the agency had money it wished to disperse before the end of the year. The food bank has received grants from the foundation in the past but those were competitive.

The foundation was established in 2000 and has given more than $265 million in awards and grants. It serves the city of St. Louis and 84 counties in Missouri.

The Central Missouri Food Bank serves 31 counties. The foundation also gave $30,000 in grants to the Bootheel Food Bank in Sikeston and the Ozark Food Harvest in Springfield. The St. Louis Area Food Bank will receive $70,000.